Nine care facilities receive state awards

Cheryl Wade

Published 9:00 pm, Monday, July 1, 2002

But all that changed about 10 years ago, and Ripke is a state award winner for her Grandma Judy's Day Care.

Ripke is one of 75 winners of the 2002 Governor's Quality Care Awards, launched by Gov. John Engler in 1998. They recognize outstanding state-licensed child care homes and centers, before/after school programs, nursing homes, hospices, homes for the aged and adult foster care facilities. The 75 winners were selected from nearly 1,000 nominations submitted to the Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services.

The nominations were first reviewed by a panel of child and

long-term care experts followed by a licensing check to narrow the field to finalists. As part of the selection process, department Director Kathleen Wilbur and Deputy Director Ron Basso visited each finalist.

Before becoming a day care provider, Ripke worked as a nurse, as an interior designer and again as a nurse. When her granddaughter came to live with her, she decided she wanted to take in a couple of other children to earn some extra money. But she found out she'd have to be licensed, and the rest is history: training, conferences, field trips for the children. She's now licensed for 12 children and, although she could care for youngsters as old as 12, she now has infants through 5-year-olds.

"It's something I said I never ever would do," Ripke said. "I didn't have a clue" about how to get started.

Now, the day care center in her basement is always full and there's a waiting list. She maintains a ratio of at most four children to one adult, sometimes 3-1. The staff takes children on field trips to such destinations as the Saginaw Children's Zoo, Deer Acres and Riverdays.

"The parents know that they may call me at any time and ask questions," she said.

When Ripke attends training for day care providers, she compiles what she's learned and gives it to parents. She's given them packets on subjects from behavior to health.